North Yorkshire is just weeks away from the biggest change to it's governance since 1974, there is the possibility of an elected Mayor in a year's time and now a suggestion that the county should merge with York.
April 1st 2023 is a landmark day for local government in North Yorkshire. The county council along with the district and borough councils will be abolished and replaced with a single body, the new North Yorkshire Council.
But at the same time as work has been progressing to implement the changes there have also been discussions going on about another set of changes, a plan to create an elected Mayor for York and North Yorkshire. The Mayor's office would be in addition to, and separate from, North Yorkshire Council and the City of York Council, but would have powers over some policy areas devolved to it from Whitehall.
The plan has been backed by both North Yorkshire County Council and the City of York Council but there are still concerns from some councillors about the governance arrangements.
The plan could see an elected Mayor in place in 2024, they would have power over things like transport and economic regeneration.
Decisions would be made by the Mayor along with two councillors from North Yorkshire and two from York.
Hunmanby Councillor - Michelle Donohue-Moncrieff - says that's not democratic, as North Yorkshire has three times the population of York but would have the same level of representation on the new Combined Mayoral Authority.
Councillor Donohue-Moncrieff suggests there should be a full merger between York and North Yorkshire.
The proposals for the creation of the Combined Mayoral Authority are part of a devolution deal for the region which would see the new body receive funding from central government and inherit some powers from Westminster over policy areas such as transport, regeneration and economic development.
Seamer County Councillor - Heather Philips - is backing the plan and says it brings big benefits to North Yorkshire.
The proposal was put out to public consultation last year and received backing from those who took part, although the response rate was not high.
Last week both North Yorkshire County Council and the City of York Council voted to recommend the proposal to central government. If it is given approval then elections could take place later this year and a Mayor could be in place in April 2024.
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